DNR predicts ‘brilliant’ fall colors season

During the next seven or eight weeks, waves of fall color will roll across Minnesota’s forests and prairies, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division encourages families to get out and enjoy them.

Comment

The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch

Writer

Posted Sep. 11, 2013 at 11:21 AM

Posted Sep. 11, 2013 at 11:21 AM

Sleepy Eye, Minn.

During the next seven or eight weeks, waves of fall color will roll across Minnesota’s forests and prairies, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division encourages families to get out and enjoy them.

The statewide fall color report is updated every Thursday by staff at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. These reports include percent of color change, peak color projections and three state park or trail destinations considered “hot picks” of the week.

“We’re predicting it will be a brilliant fall color season,” said Patricia Arndt, communications and outreach manager for the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails. “Although it’s been dry lately, the trees got adequate rain earlier this season. Now we just need a combination of sunny days and cool nights in the weeks ahead to bring out the fall colors. We’ve timed many of our fall hiking, biking, geocaching and paddling programs at Minnesota state parks and trails to coincide with peak color, and we hope to see lots of people getting outdoors to enjoy this beautiful time of year.”

Colors typically peak between mid-September and early October in northern third of the state, between late September and early October in central third and between late September and mid-October in southern third (which includes Twin Cities).

Fall color programs are listed in the free “Feel the ‘Wow’ of Fall” brochure at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, Twin Cities libraries and REI stores and the Parks and Trails kiosk across from food court at Rosedale Center. The DNR Information Center will also mail the brochure to anyone who requests it.